Mamata Visits Baghbazar Fire Spot, Assures Homes Will Be Rebuilt

Disaster management teams of the Kolkata Police have been deployed to bring the situation under control.

No casualty has been reported so far, as most of the people were shifted out on time, an official said.

(Image Courtesy: IANS)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the slum in Kolkata's Baghbazar area, which saw a massive fire on 13 January 2020, leaving over 150 shanties gutted. An estimated 700 people have been rendered homeless.

Banerjee assured the slum dwellers that their homes will be rebuilt, and that the affected people will be provided with food and shelter in the meantime.

Each family was promised five kg rice, lentils, vegetables, and milk for children.

A major fire broke out in Kolkata's Baghbazar area on the evening of Wednesday, 13 January, West Bengal fire services officials said.

As many as 27 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the blaze. The fire broke out at around 7 pm in Chitpore Lock Gate Bridge's Hazari Bustee area located on Kshirode Vidyavinode Avenue, near the Baghbazar Women's College.

At least 150 shanties were gutted in the fire. Residents of the nearby high rises were also shifted to safer places as there were blasts at the spot. The police suspect that gas cylinders were stuffed at the shanties, which blasted during conflagration.

Disaster management teams of the Kolkata Police had been deployed to bring the situation under control.

No casualty has been reported so far, as most of the people were shifted out on time, an official said. The fire also engulfed the adjacent Sarada Maa's house but the fire brigade officials safely escorted the monks out of the building.

( With inputs from PTI and IANS.)